Washington D.C. [USA], Aug 22 (ANI): Officials from the US Department of Defence will hold a two-day inter-sessional dialogue with their Indian counterparts from Thursday to strengthen cooperation in maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the US Department of State.

Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs Randall Schriver, who will head the meeting, will travel to California, from August 21-23, "for engagements with Indian government officials on strengthening our strategic partnership.""On August 22, Acting Assistant Secretary Wells and Assistant Secretary of Defense Schriver will co-host their Indian counterparts for an Intersessional Meeting of the US-India 22 Dialogue," the Department said in a statement.

"During the Intersessional, the two sides will discuss ways to advance cooperation on critical diplomatic and security priorities, including our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and review preparations for the next 22 Ministerial Dialogue," the statement read.

Meanwhile, on August 23, Wells and Schriver will co-host their Indian counterparts for the "fourth US-India Maritime Security Dialogue, in which the two sides will exchange views on maritime developments in the Indo-Pacific region and consider steps to further strengthen bilateral maritime security cooperation."Both the 22 Intersessional Meeting and Maritime Security Dialogue are scheduled to be held at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. (ANI)